Arc Raiders Developer Discusses AI Voice Acting and Phase-Out Plans
Embark Studios revealed that it initially used generative AI for voice acting in 'Arc Raiders' to reduce the burden of frequent script changes, but is now systematically replacing these AI voices with real human recordings. This case highlights the complex practical applications, production pipeline challenges, and public perception hurdles surrounding generative AI in the video game industry. It also reflects how developers are balancing workflow efficiency against player immersion and voice actor concerns. While the studio noted that AI helped manage constant updates following the game's October 2025 launch without constantly calling actors back into the studio, voice actors expressed valid intellectual property concerns regarding their synthetic performances. Consequently, studio executives confirmed they are actively phasing out AI voice acting to honor human talent and avoid breaking player immersion.
## BACKGROUND
Embark Studios is a Swedish video game developer founded in 2018 by former DICE employees and acquired by Nexon, known for multiplayer games like 'The Finals' and the extraction shooter 'Arc Raiders'. Generative AI in voice acting relies on training models using real voice recordings to generate new dialogue, which has sparked ongoing debates across the entertainment industry regarding fair compensation, ownership rights, and the displacement of human artists.